About Richard Greene

Richard Greene, “one of the most innovative and influential fiddle players of all time,” grew up in Los Angeles and studied classical music until his encounter with the pyrotechnic fiddling of Scotty Stoneman; from then on Richard was a fiddler. He first attained prominence with Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys in 1966 as one of Monroe’s first “northern” band members; it was during this time that he perfected his invention of the ‘chop’, a rhythmic/melodic bowing technique now universally employed throughout the world of fiddling. Richard then went on to found the revolutionary Folk-Rock group Seatrain, pioneering the first use of the electric violin in Rock. His advanced technique and intense yet “cool” tone shocked audiences and prefigured such players as Jean-Luc Ponty and others, influencing a generation of fiddle players including Darol Anger, Alison Krauss, Sam Bush and Stuart Duncan.

Richard’s return to acoustic music occasioned the invention of “New Grass” or “New Acoustic” instrumental music, now a mainstay throughout the world’s acoustic music festivals. As one of Los Angeles’ premier string session players he founded the trailblazing Greene String Quartet creating the first ever amalgam of Jazz-Folk-Rock-Chamber music and producing three seminal albums. His many acclaimed releases in the folk and bluegrass world have been honored with Grammy and IBMA awards, his CD Sales Tax Toddle was Grammy nominated for Bluegrass Album of Year.

Mr. Greene has lead seminars on all aspects of fiddling and violin playing nationwide. His instructional venues have included The Mancini Institute, the RockyGrass Academy, the Festival of Fiddle Tunes, the Mark O’Connor Fiddle Camp, the Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp, The Swannanoa Gathering, Strings Without Boundaries and dozens of ad hoc workshops throughout the year. Reaching out internationally, Richard Greene presented master classes for violin students playing in the Portuguese Metropolitan Orchestra in Lisbon in 2009. Mr. Greene’s also has performed many of his original compositions for Bluegrass Violin and Orchestra with many ensembles throughout the country including his piece entitled “What If Mozart Played With Bill Monroe?”

“…the only violinist in the world who can play anything on that instrument, and with so ecstatic a tone…”
Nat Hentoff

Richard Greene Resume

Music genre: Authentic Old Time fiddle music (much of which learned one on one from Bill Monroe, inventor of BlueGrass Music), Bluegrass fiddling and New Acoustic (original instrumental compositions). Richard co-invented the genre New Acousticwith David Grisman circa 1974 (The Great American Music Band).

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Major Festival Performances as Headliner: Vancouver, Telluride, Durango Meltdown, Mayfest (Scotland), Wind Gap, Winterhawk (now Grey Fox), MerleFest, RockyGrass, Live Oak, Winfield, Old Settlers, Strawberry, Supergrass, Blythe, Mayville, Sedona

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“Richard is a hero of mine too, from when I was 11.”
Mark O’Connor

Awards

2009 Music Legend Award: Topanga Banjo•Fiddle Contest & Folk Festival http://www.topangabanjofiddle.org/legend_award.html
GRAMMY AWARD: Best Instrumental Performance of the Year (1997)
GRAMMY NOMINATION: Best Bluegrass Recording of the Year (1998)
IBMA: Recorded Event of the Year
IBMA Nomination: Instrumental Group of the Year
IBMA Nomination: Instrumental Recording of the Year
Honorary Kentucky Colonel
Jerusalem Jazz & Blues Hall of Fame Inductee

“Wow man, how the fuck do you follow that?”
Steve Winwood after Richard Greene completed his third encore with Seatrain as opening act for Traffic in Liverpool.

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Leading with his own groups

Seatrain (1969-1972) (produced by George Martin of Beatles fame). 1st occurrence of the electric violin in Rock and Roll
The Great American Music Band (co-lead with David Grisman, circa 1974)
Muleskinner (band members: Bill Keith, Clarence White, Peter Rowan, David Grisman)
The Greene String Quartet
The Grass Is Greener (David Grier, Bill Keith, Chris Thile, Butch Baldasarri, Tony Trischka, Tim Emmons, Gene Libbea)
Richard Greene & The Brothers Barton

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“One of America’s most influential fiddlers – certainly one of the giants of modern fiddling, with Richard Greene you get the complete Bluegrass fiddle package: great technique, daring invention, sensitivity to the music’s inner soul and a fiery presentation.”
Bluegrass Unlimited

Recording & Performance History as Sideman (highlights):

Red Allen (Richard’s 1st ever recording session – 12 classic sides), Bill Monroe (14 classic sides), David Lindley, Taj Mahal, Gary Burton, The Greenbriar Boys, The Jim Kweskin Jug Band, Melissa Manchester, Linda Ronstadt, Pearls Before Swine, Peter Ivers, Herbie Hancock, Martina McBride, Paul Siebel, Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, Andreas Vollenweider, Steve Wynn, Tom & Patrick Sauber, The Blasters, Del Shannon, Maria Muldaur, Geoff Muldaur, David Grisman, The Blues Project, James Taylor, Tony Rice, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Bob Seger, Old And In The Way, Brian Wilson, Eddie Adcock, George Strait, Loggins & Messina, Crosby-Stills & Nash, Peter Rowan, Deana Carter, Rod Stewart, Lacy J. Dalton, Jerry Garcia, Van Dyke Parks, Bruce Springsteen, The Brothers Barton, Tony Trischka, Sting, Joss Stone, Richard Thompson, Kelly Clarkson, Mandy Moore, Tony Bennett, The Wagner Ensemble (Jeannine Wagner), Jennifer Leitham, Dan Hicks, Produced and arranged Stephanie Bettman’s award winning debut CD: ‘Get Close to Me’